About

Who we are

The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) was formally incorporated and registered as a non-governmental organisation in the United Kingdom in June 2011. It’s the world’s leading trade association for shippers (importers and exporters) engaged in international trade, organising the movement of goods in all modes of transport.

Origins of GSF

GSF was created in 2006. The decision to incorporate GSF was taken to enable GSF to establish formal recognition, consultation status and accreditation with the major UN agencies such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Customs Organisation.

Focus and Aims

GSF represents shippers’ interests and that of their national and regional organisations in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australasia.

GSF’s mission is to influence regulatory developments affecting international freight transport and the policy decisions of governments and international organisations as they affect shippers and receivers of freight.

How we represent shippers

Since 1994 when the Tripartite Shippers’ Group (TSG) consisting of the US National Industrial League, ASC and European shippers first got together in Brussels, shippers’ views have been represented at an international level. By 1996 this informal grouping had expanded to shippers organisations from over 50 countries - GSF was born.

Today, GSF represents shippers in all the world’s major trading regions, including Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australasia.

On a day-to-day basis GSF is lobbying, educating and influencing government and inter-government organisations on an expanding range of regulatory and trade issues affecting shippers, and in doing so raising the profile of shippers and their interests.

The formal incorporation of GSF and the establishment of a permanent secretariat based in the UK was agreed in June 2011 now positions GSF to more professionally represent shippers’ views at the highest level of global government. GSF was formally launched on 1 July 2011.

What results has GSF achieved for shippers?

Here are some recent examples of successes GSF has secured for shippers:

The abolition of liner conferences and price fixing and capacity agreements in all trades to and from Europe

Persuaded the ILO/IMO not to introduce new regulations increasing shippers' responsibilities for the safe stowage of containers throughout the whole supply chain in favour of enhanced guidelines in the promotion of training and best practice

Influenced the outcome of the recent INCOTERMS revision by the International Chamber of Commerce

What is GSF campaigning for?

GSF is campaigning on the issues that most affect shippers, including competitive and efficient shipping markets by all modes to improve the performance of shippers’ logistics and supply chains. We are therefore campaigning for:

Board and Secretariat of the Global Shippers' Forum

The Global Shippers' Forum Board is made up of Directors elected by GSF members at the Annual General Meeting. The Board is responsible for supervision of the management of GSF, including its finances and corporate governance.

GSF Board of Directors

Sean Van Dort

Chairman, Sri Lankan Shippers' Council Chairman of the GSF Board of Directors

How to join Global Shippers’ Forum

If you are a shipper (importer or exporter) organising the movement of goods around the world you can become involved in the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) by joining one of the national or regional organisations in membership of GSF.

If you want to know more contact the following organisations in your main region of operation: